Hay baling machine

ABSTRACT

A hay baling machine consisting of a wheeled frame adapted to be towed, an upwardly opening V-shaped trough carried by said frame and comprising an inclined wall and a relatively angled platform, hay pick-up and transporting devices carried by said frame and operable to pick up hay from the ground and deposit it in said trough, a powered rotary spindle disposed in said trough parallel to the apex thereof and movable away from said apex, and powered conveyor chains carried by said platform and movable at right angles to the apex thereof, whereby hay desposited in said trough is wound on said spindle to form a cylindrical bale constantly rotated by said conveyor chains, said spindle being removable from said bale and said platform being pivotally movable to be inclined downwardly toward its free edge, whereby said bale may be discharged to the ground.

United States Patent Wenger [54] HAY BALING MACHINE [72] Inventor: LouisWenger, 1504 Lake View Drive,

Sabetha, Kans. 66534 [22] Filed: Feb. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 113,549

[52] U.S. Cl ..56/341 [51] Int. Cl. ..A0ld 39/00 [58] Field of Search..56/341, 343; 100/76 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,534,537 l0/l970 Buchele et al. ..56/341 Primary ExaminerLouis G.Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. N. Eskovitz Attorney-John A. HamiltonABSTRACT whereby hay desposited in said trough is wound on said spindleto form a cylindrical bale constantly rotated by said conveyor chains,said spindle being removable from said bale and said platform beingpivotally movable to be inclined downwardly toward its free edge,whereby said bale may be discharged to the ground.

13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented May 30, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet lINVEN'TOR. Lou/ls I l/anger m! 2 a; I:

Patented May 30, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENI'OR. Lou/I; I l angerPatented May 30, 1972 3,665,690

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY A. z I

Afro/we y.

Patented May 30, 1972 3,665,690

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVIi'N'I (IR 14;. 7 Lou/I1 Mnger Aria/way.

HAY BALING MACHINE This invention relates to new and useful improvementsin hay baling machines, and has as its principal object the provision ofa baling machine operable to produce very large cylindrical bales, sayperhaps 8 feet in diameter, 12 or 13 feet in length, and weighing inexcess of 8 tons. Such large bales offer advantages in economy ofhandling, and in the storage and preservation of large quantities of haywithout the necessity of storing the bales under cover to protect themfrom the elements.

Another object is the provision of a baling machine of the characterdescribed which thatches" the surface of the bales, tending to arrangethe strands of hay in parallel relation and pressing them firmly intothe bale surface, whereby to better shed rain and the like by reducingany penetration of water thereinto to a minimum.

A further object is the provision of a baling machine of the characterdescribed which eliminates any necessity of powerful, complicated andexpensive presses to compact the hay in the bale, the bales insteadbeing compacted by their own great weight as they are formed.

A still further object is the provision of a baling machine of thecharacter described which produces a cylindrical bale having a hollowtubular opening formed therethrough. Pressurized hot air may thus be fedinto said opening and will filter outwardly through the body of the baleto facilitate curing of thehay.

Still another object is the provision of a baling machine of thecharacter described which is adapted to serve as a handling device forthe bales formed thereby both in depositing said bales gently on theground wherever desired, and to pick up and transport said bales whendesired.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, and efficiencyand dependability of operation.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects whic will appear inthe course of the specification, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a hay baling machine embodying thepresent invention, partially broken away, with a bale almost completelyformed,

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the machine as shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the machine as shown in FIG. 1, with thehay omitted but with the parts otherwise in the same inclined upwardlyand forwardly. Said platform and wall are generally planar, theintersection of their planes defining the apex of the trough, said apexbeing horizontal and extending transversely of frame 2.

Adjacent its forward end, platform 18 is pivoted to frame rails 4 on ahorizontal transverse axis, or at 22, whereby it may be pivoted from itsnormal upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, as shown in FIG. 1, toa downwardly and rearwardly inclined position wherein its rearward edgeis disposed at or just above the ground level. When in said loweredposition, it is supported additionally by ground-engaging rollers 24carried rotatably thereby in rearwardly spaced relation from pivot 22.Said platform is powered for movement between said raised and loweredpositions by a pair of hydraulic rams 26 pivoted at their lower ends, asat 28, to box beam 6, and at their upper ends, as at 30, to the lowerside of platform 18 in rearwardly spaced relation from pivot 22.Hydraulic fluid from any suitable source is furnished to rams 26 throughhoses 32. Platform 18 comprises a series of forwardly and rearwardlyextending parallel beams 34 rigidly connected by cross bars 36 extendingtransversely therebetween. An endless conveyor chain 38 extends alongeach of beams 34, its upper and lower reaches riding respectively alongthe upper and lower edges of said beam. Said chains are trained aroundsprockets 40 mounted rotatably at the rearward ends of beams 34, andabout sprockets 42 at the forward ends of said beams. Sprockets 42 areall mounted on a shaft 44 extending the full width of the platform andjournalled rotatably in bearings 46 (see FIG. 7) affixed to a cross bar48 affixed to the forward ends of .bearns 34. At one end, shaft 44 isconnected to and driven rotatably by a hydraulic motor 50 (see FIGS.1-3) mounted on one of the sidemost of beams 34, and to which hydraulicfluid is supplied by hoses 52. Said hydraulic motor is reversible, butnormally drives chains 38 so that their upper reaches move rearwardly.Attached to each of chains 38 at intervals therealong are a series ofoutwardly projecting cleats 54. Arranged between each successive pair ofbeams 34 is a sheet metal floor member 56. Said floor members rest onand are affixed to cross bars 36 of the platform, preferably in spacedrelation below the upper edges of beams 34, and extend forwardly beyondforward sprockets 42, being curved upwardly at their forward ends asindicated at 58. Platform 18 is positions, and with various positions ofthe conveyor indicated in dotted lines,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken on line IVIVofFIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of the core spindle, partiallybroken away and foreshortened,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line VIVI of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken on line VIIVIIof FIG. 3, with the parts positioned to commence the formation of abale.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the severalviews, and the numeral 2 applies generally to the main frame of themachine. Said frame includes a pair of horizontal, generally parallelside rails 4 rigidly interconnected adjacent their rearward ends by atransverse box beam 6 and at their forward ends by a transverse crossbar 8. Affixed to the midpoint of said cross bar is a forwardlyprojecting tongue 10 provided at its forward end with a hitch fitting 12by means of which the machine may be connected to a tractor or the likefor towing over the ground. Each side rail 4 is provided at its extremerearward end with a dual ground-engaging wheel 14 carried rotatably on ahorizontal transverse axis, whereby the rearward end of the machine issupported.

Disposed above the rearward portion of frame 2, and projectingrearwardly therefrom, is an upwardly opening V- shaped trough indicatedgenerally by the numeral 16, as indicated in FIG. 1. Said troughcomprises a pair of wall members including a platform 18 which isnormally inclined upwardly and rearwardly, and a wall member 20 which isprovided with a vertical side wall 60 at each side thereof, intermediatethe forward and rearward ends thereof, each of said side walls beingsecured at its lower edge to the corresponding sidemost beam 34 of theplatform. The top, front, and rear edges of each of said side walls isangled or bevelled outwardly, as shown.

Wall 20 of trough 16 is provided with side members 62 which are pivotedat their lower ends, as at 64, to the sidemost beams 34 of platform 18,in rearwardly spaced relation from the forward edge of said platform.Said wall is provided with a sheet metal face plate 66 at its rearwardsurface, and said face plate terminates at its lower edge in spacedapart relation above platform 18, thereby forming a window 68 (see FIG.7) between the lower edge of said face plate and the upper surface ofsaid platform. The platform projects forwardly from wall 20, and haydeposited on the forwardly projection portion thereof will be carriedrearwardly through said window into the trough by the conveyor chains 38of said platform, as will appear. A pair of struts 70 each pivoted at 72to wall 20 at its upper edge extend downwardly and forwardly and arepivoted respectively at their lower ends to the side rails 4 of the mainframe as at 74 (see FIG. 3). Wall 20 is provided at each side thereofwith a vertical side wall 76 of generally triangular form, each of saidside walls being affixed to the corresponding side member 62, and havingat its free edge portions angled or bevelled outwardly as shown.

Operable within trough 16 is a spindle indicated generally by thenumeral 78, said spindle being horizontal and extending transverselysubstantially the full width of the trough, parallel to the apexthereof. Said spindle is hollow and of light weight, being conicallytapered from one end to the other, and is provided at its respectiveends with outwardly projecting stub axles 80 and 82. To start a bale,said spindle is positioned as closely as practical to the apex of trough16, with stub axles 80 and 82 supported rotatably in upwardly openingnotches 84 formed in the upper ends of a pair of posts 86 affixed attheir lower ends to the sidemost beams 34 of platform 18; Stub axle 82,at the larger end of the spindle, is splined as indicated at 88 (seeFIG. for detachable engagement in a coupling 90 mounted on and driven bya hydraulic motor 92 to which hydraulic fluid is furnished by flexiblehoses 94. Hydraulic motor 92 is mounted slidably on a rod 94 disposed atone side of platform 18 and pivoted to the corresponding sidemost beam34 of said platform on a horizontal axis transverse to said platform, asat 96 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Thus spindle 78 has a substantially floatingrelationship with trough l6, and is free to move upwardly, forwardly, orrearwardly in the trough, as the bale forming thereabout increases indiameter, once its stub axles 80 and 82 are lifted free from notches 84of posts 86. Platform 18 also includes a series of elongated leafsprings 98, spaced regularly across the width of said platform.Referring to FIG. 7, each of said springs is affixed at its lower end toone of beams 34 of the platform, beneath the level of floor 56, as at100. Said spring extends upwardly through a hole formed therefor infloor 56, and when relaxed, curves upwardly and then forwardly(counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 7) around spindle 78, when saidspindle is supported by posts 86.

Spindle 78 also includes pairs of angle irons 102 (see FIGS. 5-7)extending longitudinally the full length thereof, at spaced angularintervals thereabout, each pair of angle irons including legs projectingoutwardly from said spindle in parallel relation. A series of fingers104 are mounted at intervals between each of said pairs of angle irons,each finger being pivoted at one end between said angle irons, as at106, on an axis transverse to the spindle. Each finger pivots freelybetween an extended position generally radial to the spindle, and aretracted position lying entirely between its associated angle irons asindicated by arrows 108 in FIG. 5.

Mounted in the forward portion of main frame 2, just behind forwardcross bar 8 thereof, is a hay pick-up device 110. Suitable pick-updevices for this purpose are already common and well known in the art,and the device is therefore not here detailed. For present purposes,suffice it to say that said pickup device includes a housing 112 mountedin frame 2 by brackets 114, and a rake device 116 operable to pick uphay 118 deposited in windows on the ground by a mowing machine, and thatis operable to discharge the hay through an opening 120 (see FIG. 4) ina rear wall of housing 112. The pick-up device may be powered by ahydraulic motor 122 to which hydraulic fluid is supplied by hoses 124,or by any other suitable means.

Hay discharged from opening 120 of the pick-up device housing isreceived on the upper surface of a conveyor C which extends generallyforwardly and rearwardly and comprises an endless belt 126 trained abouta pair of rollers 128 and 130 mounted respectively and rotatably at theforward and rearward ends of a conveyor frame 132 disposed between thebelt reaches. The forward end of frame 132 is supported by a yoke 134mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis by means of a pivotpin 136 engaged in a cross bar 138 extending transversely between andaffixed to main frame rails 4. The forward end of the conveyor ispositioned to receive thereon hay emerging from opening 120 of thepick-up device. The rearward end of the conveyor is supported by a yoke140 which extends forwardly, and has affixed to the forward and thereofa rod 142 which extends forwardly and is pivoted to the top of pick-uphousing 112 on a vertical axis, as at 144. Pivot 144 should beapproximately coaxial with pivot pin 136. A twinbuckle 146 interposed inrod 142 permits vertical adjustment of the rearward end of the conveyor.The conveyor is powered by a hydraulic motor 148 mounted on conveyorframe 132 and to which hydraulic fluid is supplied by hoses 150, or byany other suitable means.

The support of conveyor C on vertical pivots 136 and 144 permits therearward end of said conveyor, which is disposed above the portion ofplatform 18 projecting forwardly of the lower edge of wall 20, to beswung horizontally from side to side, as indicated by dotted linepositions C' and C" in FIG. 3, whereby hay discharged by said conveyorto said platform may be distributed evenly and uniformly across thewidth of said platform. To perform this swinging of the conveyor, rod142 is extended forwardly from pivot 144, and is connected at itsforward end by a vertical pivot 152 to the free end of the piston rod154 of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 156, the opposite end of saidcylinder being connected to pick-up housing 112 by a vertical pivot 158.Thus the delivery of fluid to alternately opposite ends of saidcylinder, at the proper intervals, will cause conveyor C to oscillateregularly between positions C and C. Fluid for said cylinder is suppliedby hoses 160 to a control valve 162 mounted on housing 112, and by hoses164 from said control valve to said cylinder. Said control valve isprovided with an operating lever 166 operable selectively by movementthereof in relatively opposite directions to set said valve to deliverfluid under pressure to either end of the cylinder. Said lever isoperated by a pair of relatively angled fingers 168 and 170 affixed toand movable with rod 142. Thus, as conveyor C approaches position C,finger 170 engages lever 166 to set valve 162 to cause cylinder 156 toreverse the motion of the conveyor to cause it to move toward positionC", and when theconveyor reaches position C", finger 168 engages lever166 to reverse the cylinder operation again, and so on.

The hydraulic pump or pumps, valves, and other controls for operatingthe various hydraulic motors and cylinders may be standard and aretherefore not here shown. The pump or pumps could be mounted on frame 2and driven either by gasoline engines also mounted on the frame, ordriven mechanically by the power takeoff system of the tractor towingthe machine. Also, the various pumps and cylinders could be powered bythe hydraulic system of the tractor, if the tractor is equipped with ahydraulic power take-off system of suffcient capacity. Also, it may bedesirable to drive certain elements of the machine, particularlyconveyor chains 38, conveyor belt 126, and pick-up device 110, directlyfrom the mechanical power-take-off of the tractor, rather than byhydraulic motors as shown. All of these alternatives are considered tobe well within the purview of the invention.

In operation, the machine is towed forwardly by a tractor connectedthereto by hitch 12, with pick-up device 1 10 operative, with conveyor Cbeing oscillated between positions C and C by cylinder 156, withconveyor belt 126 being driven by motor 148 to move the upper reachthereof rearwardly, with platform 18 elevated to its raised position asshown in FIG. 1 by extension of rams 26, with conveyor chains 38 of saidplatform being driven by motor 50 so that their upper reaches moverearwardly, with axles and 82 of spindle 78 resting in notches 84 ofposts 86, and with said spindle being driven by motor 92 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 7. Hay picked up by rake116 of pick-up device is then discharged from rear opening of saiddevice onto the conveyor C, by which it is transported rearwardly anddropped onto the top surface of the portion of platform 18 which extendsforwardly from the lower edge of wall 20, said hay being distributedevenly across the width of the platform by virtue of the transverseoscillatory movement of the con veyor as previously described. The hayis then transported rearwardly on platform 18 through window 68, byconveyor chains 38 and the cleats 54 of said chains, and passes beneathspindle 78, the fingers 104 of which are extended by gravity as theytraverse the lower portions of their orbits. Thus the hay catches onsaid fingers, and is thereby caused to start wrapping around saidspindle to form a bale B. This starting action is improved also bysprings 98, which elevate any hay not caught by spindle fingers 104, andhence tending to continue rearwardly on platform 18, upwardly away fromthe platform and forwardly over the spindle. The bale, once started inthis manner, gradually increases in diameter as more and more hay isadded to the surface thereof, and springs 98, which by theiryieldability are always pressed against the bale rearwardly of its lineof contact with the platform, function at all times to press the newlyadded hay into the hole to form at least an initial bond therebetween.The bale is of course cylindrical, and at this time is being rotated ina counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, both by conveyorchains 38 and by spindle 78.

Almost immediately after the bale has been started, its increasingdiameter causes it to lift spindle axles 80 and 82 out of notches 84 ofposts 86, this floating motion of the spindle being permitted by theslidable mounting of hydraulic motor 92 on pivoted rod 94. After thebale is well started, the need for the power driving of spindle 78 nolonger exists, since by that time the bale is of sufficient weight to befirmly engaged by cleats 54 of chains 38 so that rotation of the hole iscontinued by said chains only. Hence, at this time, coupling 90 of motor92 may be disengaged from axle 82 of the spindle, the motor shut off androd 94 pivoted out of the way. Alternatively, the hydraulic system ofmotor 92 could be a demand" system whereby only a certain torque ismaintained on spindle 78 even though it will turn at a progressivelyslower rate as the diameter of the bale increases, if the speed ofchains 38 remains constant.

As the bale is being formed as described above, it is maintained incontact with platform 18 and wall 20 by gravity, having a strongrearward rubbing or wiping action against platform 18, and a downwardrubbing or wiping action against face plate 66 of wall 20. A similarrubbing action is maintained against the vertical ends of the bale byside walls 60 and 76. This rubbing or wiping action, which increases inforce and intensity as the bale increases to its full weight of manytons, assists not only in the firm compaction of the hay withoutnecessity of a hay press per se, but also tends to thatch" the balesurface by arranging the strands of hay in parallel circumferentialrelation and pressing them into the bale with great force. Thisthatching action greatly increases the resistance of the bale topenetration by rain or other moisture, and therefore greatly reducesspoilage if the bales are stored in the open.

When the bale has been built up to the desired diameter, the machine isstopped, the various hydraulic motors are shut off, motor 92 isdisengaged from spindle axle 82 (if it has not already been disengaged)and spindle 78 is withdrawn from the bale toward the larger end thereof.This withdrawal is facilitated both by the tapered form of the spindle,and by the fact that spindle fingers 104 automatically collapse topositions between angle irons 102 as the withdrawal movement iscommenced. Hydraulic rams 26 are then allowed to collapse by exhaustingfluid therefrom, whereby platform 18 pivots downwardly on pivots 22 to aposition in which the rearward edge thereof is disposed just aboveground level, in which position it is supported by rollers 24. The balethen rolls rearwardly along the platform by gravity and is therebydeposited gently on the ground, or, if it does not roll of its ownaccord, it may be discharged by operating chains 38 in the samedirection as before. The machine may also be used to pick up andtransport bales previously deposited on the ground by lowering theplatforms as just described, and moving the machine rearwardly to pushthe rearward edge of the platform under a bale resting on the ground,while at the same time operating chains 38 in a reverse direction, sothat their upper reaches move forwardly. Motor 50 driving said chains isreversible for this purpose.

It will be noted that the bale produced has a hollow passage extendingaxially therethrough. This is an aid in curing of the hay, in that anair heater and blower may be connected to one end of the passage and theother end of the passage plugged, whereupon the heated air will enterthe passage and filter outwardly through the body of the bale in alldirections. If a number of the bales are laid in end to end relation,the axial passages of adjacent bales may be connected by tubular canvaswind socks", and all of the bales cured by a single heater and blower.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention,it will be readily apparent that many minor changes of structure andoperation could be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What I claim as-new and desire to protect by Letters Patent 1. A haybaling machine comprising:

a. a wheeled frame adapted to be towed over the ground,

b. an upwardly opening V-shaped trough carried by said frame andconsisting of a pair of inclined wall members the planes of whichintersect on a horizontal line defining the apex of said trough,

c. hay pick-up and transporting means carried by said frame and operableas said frame is moved over the ground to pick up hay from the groundand to deposit said hay in said trough,

d. a horizontal spindle disposed within said trough generally parallelto the apex thereof, said spindle being supported by said trough forfree floating movement toward and from the apex thereof;

e. means for rotatably driving said spindle whereby hay deposited insaid trough is wrapped about said spindle to form a cylindrical balesupported by said wall members,

f. conveyor means carried by one of said wall members for movement alongthe surface thereof in a direction normal to and away from the apex ofthe trough, said conveyor means being movable in the same direction asthe most closely adjacent portion of said spindle, whereby to assist inthe rotation of said bale, and

g. means for driving said conveyor means.

2. A hay baling machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said spindle islongitudinally tapered and is detachable from said trough and itsdriving means, whereby to facilitate longitudinal withdrawal thereoffrom said bale.

3. A hay baling machine as recited in claim 1 with the addition of aseries of fingers mounted in said spindle and normally projectingoutwardly therefrom whereby to assist in the winding of hay thereon toform said bale.

4. A hay baling machine as recited in claim 3 wherein said spindle islongitudinally tapered, and wherein each of said fingers is pivoted insaid spindle on an axis transverse to said spindle for movement from itsnormal projecting position to a retracted position in which it does notproject outwardly from said spindle, whereby to facilitate longitudinalwithdrawal of said spindle from said bale.

5. A hay baling machine as recited in claim 1 with the addition ofsupport members carried by said trough and operable to support saidspindle in closely spaced relation to the apex of said trough, saidspindle being elevated out of engagement with said support members bysaid bale as the diameter of said bale is increased by the addition of acontinuous supply of hay to said trough.

6. A hay baling machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said conveyormeans comprises a series of endless conveyor chains distributed inspaced relation across the width of the associated wall member andtrained around said wall member with their upper reaches resting on theupper surface of said wall member and extending at right angles to theapex of said trough.

7. A hay baling machine as recited in claim 6 with the addition ofcleats secured at spaced intervals to each of said chains, andprojecting outwardly therefrom.

8. A hay baling machine as recited in claim 1 with the addition ofvertical side walls affixed to and rising from each side of each of saidtrough wall members.

9. A hay baling machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said wall membercarrying said conveyor means projects beneath and beyond the lower edgeof the other of said wall members, the lower edge of said other wallmember terminating above the top surface of the wall member carryingsaid conveyor means whereby to form a window therebetween, and whereinsaid hay pick-up and transporting means is operable to deposit hay onthe projecting portion of the wall member carrying said conveyor means.

10. A hay baling machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said transportingmeans comprises a conveyor operable to receive hay from said pick-upmeans and operable to deliver hay, at any given moment, to a portion ofthe width of said trough less than the full width thereof, said conveyorbeing movably mounted in said frame for movement of the discharge endthereof transversely of said trough, and with the addition of powermeans carried by said frame and operable to move the discharge end ofsaid conveyor oscillatably across the full width of said trough.

11. A hay baling machine as recited in claim 1 wherein one of saidtrough wall members is pivoted at its lower edge to said frame on ahorizontal transverse axis, and with the addition of operating meanscarried by said frame to move said pivoted wall member to a position inwhich it is inclined downwardly from the pivoted edge thereof and itsopposite edge is disposed closely adjacent ground level, whereby tofacilitate unloading of bales from said machine.

1. A hay baling machine comprising: a. a wheeled frame adapted to betowed over the ground, b. an upwardly opening V-shaped trough carried bysaid frame and consisting of a pair of inclined wall members the planesof which intersect on a horizontal line defining the apex of saidtrough, c. hay pick-up and transporting means carried by said frame andoperable as said frame is moved over the ground to pick up hay from theground and to deposit said hay in said trough, d. a horizontal spindledisposed within said trough generally parallel to the apex thereof, saidspindle being supported by said trough for free floating movement towardand from the apex thereof; e. means for rotatably driving said spindlewhereby hay deposited in said trough is wrapped about said spindle toform a cylindrical bale supported by said wall members, f. conveyormeans carried by one of said wall members for movement along the surfacethereof in a direction normal to and away from the apex of the trough,said conveyor means being movable in the same direction as the mostclosely adjacent portion of said spindle, whereby to assist in therotation of said bale, and g. means for driving said conveyor means. 2.A hay baling machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said spindle islongitudinally tapered and is detachable from said trough and itsdriving means, whereby to facilitate longitudinal withdrawal thereoffrom said bale.
 3. A hay baling machine as recited in claim 1 with theaddition of a series of fingers mounted in said spindle and normallyprojecting outwardly therefrom whereby to assist in the winding of haythereon to form said bale.
 4. A hay baling machine as recited in claim 3wherein said spindle is longitudinally tapered, and wherein each of saidfingers is pivoted in said spindle on an axis transverse to said spindlefor movement from its normal projecting position to a retracted positionin which it does not project outwardly from said spindle, whereby tofacilitate longitudinal withdrawal of said spindle from said bale.
 5. Ahay baling machine as recited in claim 1 with the addition of supportmembers carried by said trough and operable to support said spindle inclosely spaced relation to the apex of said trough, said spindle beingelevated out of engagement with said support members by said bale as thediameter of said bale is increased by the addition of a continuoussupply of hay to said trough.
 6. A hay baling machine as recited inclaim 1 wherein said conveyor means comprises a series of endlessconveyor chains distributed in spaced relation across the width of theassociated wall member and trained around said wall member with theirupper reaches resting on the upper surface of said wall member andextending at right angles to the apex of said trough.
 7. A hay balingmachine as recited in claim 6 with the addition of cleats secured atspaced intervals to each of said chains, and projecting outwardlytherefrom.
 8. A hay baling machine as recited in claim 1 with theaddition of vertical side walls affixed to and rising from each side ofeach of said trough wall members.
 9. A hay baling machine as recited inclaim 1 wherein said wall member carrying said conveyor means projectsbeneath and beyond the lower edge of the other of said wall members, thelower edge of said other wall member terminating above the top surfaceof the wall member carrying said conveyor means whereby to form a windowtherebetween, and wherein said hay pick-up and transporting means isoperable to deposit hay on the projecting portion of the wall membercarrying said conveyor means.
 10. A hay baling machine as recited inclaim 1 wherein said transporting means comprises a conveyor operable toreceive hay from said pick-up means and operable to deliver hay, at anygiven moment, to a portion of the width of said trough less than thefull width thereof, said conveyor being movably mounted in said framefor movement of the discharge end thereof transversely of said trough,and with the addition of power means carried by said frame and operableto move the discharge end of said conveyor oscillatably across the fullwidth of said trough.
 11. A hay baling machine as recited in claim 1wherein one of said trough wall members is pivoted at its lower edge tosaid frame on a horizontal transverse axis, and with the addition ofoperating means carried by said frame to move said pivoted wall memberto a position in which it is inclined downwardly from the pivoted edgethereof and its opposite edge is disposed closely adjacent ground level,whereby to facilitate unloading of bales from said machine.
 12. A haybaling machine as recited in claim 11, wherein the pivoted trough wallmember is the wall member carrying said conveyor means, whereby saidconveyor means further facilitates unloading of bales from said machine.13. A hay baling machine as recited in claim 12 wherein said drivingmeans for said conveyor means is reverSible, whereby said conveyor meansmay be used to reload a previously unloaded bale onto said machine, forthe purpose of transporting said bale.